Signatories like Mrs Lalitha Ramdas, wife of Admiral Ramdas (retired), former Chief of the Indian Navy, Vishnu Bhagwat (retired), former Chief of the Indian Navy, Lt. General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi, Vice Admiral (Retd) Sanjay Misra, Major M G Devasahayam IAS (Retd), and EAS Sarma IAS (Retd) among several others have stated that such derogatory statements made by these two Ministers can “adversely affect the morale of the serving personnel of our Armed Forces resulting in the weakening of national security and territorial integrity.” Hence the signatories have demanded that both the Centre and the State should therefore initiate decisive action against the two Ministers for making such derogatory statements under the relevant provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.  The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh should remove forthwith the two Ministers from the State Cabinet. The central leadership of the concerned party should publicly condemn the derogatory statements made by the two Ministers and initiate action against them.

The signatories, in their open letter, dated May 17, 2025, have added that, because of the stringent Rules and discipline in the Armed Forces its members are unable to respond to these derogatory statements and humiliation. Therefore, as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces they have urged President of India, Draupadi Murmu to defend the honour and self-respect of the brave Indian Armed Forces by directing appropriate action against those indulging in such denigration and preventing the same in the future.

It may be recalled that statements made by deputy chief minister, Madhya Pradesh, Jagdish Devda and minister Vijay Shah came in for sharp criticism some weeks ag during the recent Indo-Pak conflict. First, Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah made a public statement referring to Col Sofia Qureshi, the official spokesperson for the defence forces as the “(terrorists) wiped the sindoor of our sisters and daughters (in the context of the recent Pahalgaon attack by terrorists), and we sent their own sister to give it back to them in kind ” openly betraying his gender-insensitive, non-secular, divisive state of mind, a statement that tends to deprecate women in general, incite communal fissures and insult the defence forces.

Second, Deputy CM Jagdish Devda, speaking at a training session for civil defence volunteers in Jabalpur on Friday, controversially told the audience, “Pradhanmantri ji ko bhi dhanyawad dena chahenge, aur pura desh, desh ki wo sena, wo sainik, unke charno mein natmastak hain. Unke charno mein pura desh natmastak hai. Unhone jo jawab diya hai (We would also like to thank the Prime Minister; the entire country, the country’s Army, its soldiers are bowing at his feet. The entire country is bowing at his feet. For the response he gave).”

The open communication also recalls and records that earlier, Shri Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of UP made a similar derogatory statement against the defence forces by calling the armed forces, “Modiji ki sena” in April 2019. Through all of these remarks that affect the dignity and morale of the forces the Government has chosen to remain silent in the matter leading to the repetition of the humiliation of the Armed Forces!

Besides, Shri Adityanath’s earlier statement and Shri Devda’s latest statement showed their outright disrespect for the letter and spirit of Article 53 of the Constitution, which defines executive power of the Union as follows:

“(1) The executive power of the Union  shall be vested in the President and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution.

 (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union shall be vested in the President and the exercise thereof shall be regulated by law.

 (3) Nothing in this article shall—

 (a) be deemed to transfer to the President any functions conferred by any existing law on the Government of any State or other authority;” In other words, under Article 52(2) of the Constitution, the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union shall vest in the President of India and no other authority.

Finally, the letter records that it is unfortunate that, instead of questioning and condemning these “despicable acts” senior leaders of BJP at the national level and their handlers are supporting them. In conclusion, the signatories have stated that while expressing solidarity with Col Sofia Qureshi and the Defence Forces in general for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security, we unequivocally condemn the statements made by the two Ministers.

Signatories:

1. Mrs Lalita Ramdas, Wife of Admiral (Retd) L. Ramdas, Former Chief of the Naval Staff
2. Admiral (Retd) Vishnu Bhagwat, Former Chief of the Naval Staff
3. General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi
4. Vice Admiral (Retd) Sanjay Misra
5. Major M G Devasahayam IAS (Retd)
6. EAS Sarma IAS (Retd)
7. Surendra Nath IAS (Retd)
8. Prof (Retd) Sebastian Morris (IIM, Ahmedabad)
9. Thomas Franco (People First)
10. Joe Athialy (Centre for Financial Accountability)
11. Dinesh Abrol (Delhi Science Forum)
12. Soumya Dutta (MAUSAM, Environmental Activist)
13. V Sridhar (Journalist, Bengaluru)
14. Prasad Chacko (People’s Union for Civil Liberties )
15. Vijayakumar (Indian School of Social Sciences)
16. Smita Ramanathan (Social Activist)
17. R. Sankari (TNGPA)
18. Teesta Setalvad (Human Rights Activist)
19. Vivekanandan (Retd Professor, MUTA)
20. K Ashok Rao (Patron All India Power Engineers Frederation)
21. Kaushik Majumdar (Social Activist)
22. Vivekaanandhan (TANRECTA)
23. Praveer Peter (Sajha Kadam (for Peace & Harmony))
24. Venkatesh Athreya (Retd Professor, Economist)
25. Nityanand Jayaraman (Chennai Solidarity Group)
26. Amanulla Khan (All India Insurance Employees’ Association)
27. Tara Rao (Eddelu Karnataka)
28. Uma Shankari (Social Activist)
29. Meera Sanghamitra, Social Activist (NAPM), Telangana
30. Madhu Bhaduri, Delhi
31. Malathi N Thomas, Karnataka
32. Prabhat Patnaik, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
33. Arun Kumar, Haryana
34. Cedric Prakash, Gujarat
35. Arun Kumar
36. VIVEKANANDAN TD, Tamil Nadu
37. Ambassador K P Fabian, Delhi
38. Ashok Sharma IFS (Retd), UP
39. Elizabeth D’Souza , Mumbai
40. A. NATHAN – PRESIDENT – NEW LIFE PEOPLE’S PARTY, TAMILNADU
41. Sushil, Karnataka
42. Beena Choksi, Maharashtra
43. Sathish Kumar, Tamil Nadu
44. Sabina Basha, Karnataka
45. Biraj Mehta, Maharashtra
46. Rahul George, Karnataka
47. Sabala, Maharashtra
48. John Dayal, Delhi
49. Chellappa, Tamil Nadu
50. Maj Sharat Chandra Singh (DGM BOI Retd) Uttar Pradesh
51. H S Gujral Punjab
52. SHARAD BEHAR, IAS Retired       Madhya Pradesh
53. Armaity Irani, Maharashtra
54. Mariadasa, Tamilnadu
55. Prabhat Sharan (Senior Journalist), Maharashtra
56. Ravi Budhiraja IAS(Retd), Maharashtra
57. Ashish Kajla, Delhi
58. Aruna Rodrigues, Madhya Pradesh
59. AlokPerti, Delhi
60. Calvin Dsouza, Goa
61. Madhu Bhaduri, Delhi
62. Peter, Tamilnadu
63. Bob Monteiro, Karnataka
64. Mariadasan, Tamilnadu
65. Amanulla Khan, Karnataka
66. MOHAMED IMRAN, TAMILNADU
67. S M Sebastian, Tamilnadu
68. Pranjali Tripathi, Delhi
69. Kirity Roy, MASUM, West Bengal
70. Aditya Mukherjee, Delhi
71. Narendra Panjwani, Maharashtra
72. M.Fidelis , Tamil Nadu
73. Ramesh Dixit, Uttar Pradesh
74. Koshi Philip, Tamilnadu
75. Neera Burra, New Delhi
76. Antony Ravi J, Tamil Nadu
77. Maya Krishna Rao, Karnataka
78. ivy lobo karnayaka
79. S Om Prakash, Karnataka
80. Kripa Noronha, Karnataka
81. Mridula Mukherjee, Delhi
82. Hilarius , Tamilnadu
83. Justice D. Hariparanthaman (Retd)
84. Sarbendu Guha, West Bengal
85. T.R. Colaso, Karnataka
86. Samrat, Delhi
87. Captain Subbarao Prabhala IN Retd, Karnataka
88. Naveen Yadav, Delhi
89. Nagalsamy , Tamilnadu
90. Varsha, Telangana
91. Gleetus, Tamil Nadu
92. Anjali Bhardwaj, Delhi
93. Amrita Johri, Delhi

The post Save the honour and self-respect of India’s Armed forces: Former army naval personnel & citizens appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Indian government is under the scanner as it is yet to share what its response is to the developing situation in Afghanistan. Not much is known about India’s plan to evacuate over 200 Indian citizens who are reportedly stuck in Kabul, Afghanistan.

There is curfew in the city, and according to NDTV, the citizens are unable to venture out. According to reports civilian flights have been stopped from departing Kabul airport now. Viral videos on social media showed desperate locals clinging on to US military aircrafts as they taxied on the runway. This was soon followed by images of some people falling to their deaths from the airborne planes, perhaps as soon as the craft’s landing gear which they had been clinging on to had closed. At least two people were reportedly killed when they fell off the plane as it took off from Kabul Airport.

BREAKING: At least 2 people fall to their death after holding on to a plane as it takes off from Kabul Airport pic.twitter.com/m7XU8lwo5S

— BNO News (@BNONews) August 16, 2021

In the city of Kabul, Taliban reportedly entered the Presidential Palace. It has also put journalists under the scanner and reportedly entered the compound of TOLOnews Afghanistan’s first 24-hours news television network. The Taliban forces reportedly “agreed to keep the compound safe.” 

Taliban entered the TOLOnews compound in Kabul, checked the weapons of the security staff, collected govt-issued weapons, agreed to keep the compound safe. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/LhuMI7Z90u

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 16, 2021

This “assurance” has also reportedly been given to Hindus and Sikhs who are in Afghanistan. According to news reports, more than 200 Sikhs are now stuck in a Gurdwara in Afghanistan. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Monday, urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to immediately evacuate Indians stuck there.

Urge @DrSJaishankar, MEA, GoI, to arrange for immediate evacuation of all Indians, including around 200 Sikhs, stuck in a Gurudwara in Afghanistan after the #Taliban takeover. My govt is willing to extend any help needed to ensure their safe evacuation. @MEAIndia

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) August 16, 2021

His appeal came soon after there were reports of gunfire at the Kabul International Airport reportedly to disperse crowds and allow the US plane’s takeoff. Utter chaos reigned at the Kabul airport, as massive crowds continued to stand on the runway and attempt to scramble aboard the aircrafts externally.  At least three people were reportedly killed by gunfire at Kabul airport. 

#Breaking: At least three people have been killed by gunfire at Kabul airport.

Heavy gunfight going on. pic.twitter.com/yxfVnwbMFn

— Ahmer Khan (@ahmermkhan) August 16, 2021

Video on social media shows people falling to their deaths from an aircraft that had taken off from Kabul airport, presumably having attached themselves from the outside. pic.twitter.com/9KHeiuawXj

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 16, 2021

According to MS Sirsa, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee and the  National Spokesman, Shiromani Akali Dal, “Taliban Leaders” have met the Sikhs and Hindus “and assured them of their safety.”

Taliban Leaders have met them and assured them of their safety. We are hopeful that Hindus & Sikhs would be able to live a safe/secure life despite political & military changes happening in Afghanistan@ANI @republic @thetribunechd @punjabkesari https://t.co/0ZIn0VQ6Pg pic.twitter.com/xImxiAV1Aj

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) August 16, 2021

Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Union Minister of External Affairs, has not made his response to the Afghan Situation public yet, but according to a report in Times Now, on Sunday,  S Jaishankar, India’s Minister for External Affairs, said that India and America’s interests may not be perfectly aligned over the volatile situation currently prevailing in Afghanistan. “We clearly have much more overlaps of interest with the United States east of India which is why the Indo-Pacific allows for a platform like the QUAD,” Jaishankar told Times Now, adding, “But, when it comes to Afghanistan, I think we have watched a lot of these decisions with a great deal of concern. Unfortunately, all that we’ve been seeing for the last few days have realized many of those fears.”

According to News18, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in New York during India’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It has been reported that he will preside over “two high-level signature events on August 18 and 19. The first event on August 18 will be an open debate on ‘Protecting the Protectors: Technology and Peacekeeping’ while the second event on August 19 will be a high-level briefing on ‘Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts’.”

Related:

Afghan crisis: Women, activists demand immediate ceasefire, protection for civilians 
Afghan President flees as Taliban enters Kabul
Danish Siddiqui’s photojournalism captured the soul of the news
20 years after they were destroyed, Bamiyan Buddha resurrected virtually

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